How to Analyze Your Game Competitors:

How to Analyze Your Game Competitors: A Step-by-Step Guide:1. Identify Competitors • Go to AppMagic (https://lnkd.in/ek8Npiyr) • Select your game subgenre. • Choose top 2-3 games from "Top Grossing" and "Top Free" categories. • Check the “Competitors” tab to find games with the highest overlap scores. 2. Compile a List • Include both high-revenue games and underperformers. • This helps you see the full range of competitive elements in your space. 3. Study Reviews • Go to the App Store (https://lnkd.in/e2Ajf7j4) or Google Play (https://lnkd.in/eNJdH5hg) • Download games-competitors • Check reviews on this games • Look for common feedback: What do players love? What’s missing? What’s frustrating them? 4. Play and Analyze Key Aspects • FTUE (First-Time User Experience): Evaluate tutorials and initial game goals. • Core Gameplay: Identify mechanics, gameplay loop, and engagement factors. • Progression & Balance: Assess […]

Anton Slashcev October 27

Journal

Why do launched games fail?

Why do launched games fail? It often comes down to one of three things: 1. Weak Product ↳ The game doesn’t provide enough value to its core players. ↳ It’s not fun to keep players engaged. 2. Weak Marketing ↳ The game could be a hit, but it’s lost in the noise. ↳ Players who would love it simply don’t know it exists. 3. Weak Market Research ↳ The game resonates with players, but the audience is too small. ↳ A loyal fanbase is great, but without enough players, costs won’t be covered. Having a fun game (Point 1) is critical. But most games fail because of Points 2 and 3. So, remember: Creating a great game is only half the battle. To win, you need a sizable niche and the ability to connect with players.

Anton Slashcev October 26

Journal

Mobile game loop breakdown:

Mobile game loop breakdown:Here's a simplified view of how key elements fit together:1. Core Gameplay • This is where the main action happens – puzzle-solving, combat, or other mechanics. • Consumables or Boosters help players progress faster by enhancing gameplay.2. Win Condition • When players win, they are rewarded with: - Currency 💰 - Meta Score 📊 - Progress Points 🎯 • Success keeps players motivated to continue and progress further.3. Fail Condition • When players fail, they lose: - Lives 🫀 - Currency 💰 • Players can choose to continue by spending currency, keeping engagement high.4. Progression System • Progression is critical for maintaining player interest: - Win streaks and quests offer goals and challenges. - Players earn boosters, currency, power levels, and progress points to advance.5. Metagame • The metagame adds depth and longevity: - Leaderboards 🏆 and […]

Anton Slashcev October 25

Journal

How Cup Heroes Monetizes Its Success

How Cup Heroes Monetizes Its Success10M+ downloads and $1.7M in monthly revenue (https://lnkd.in/eyg_hWaK)Cup Heroes is a masterclass in hybrid-casual monetization. Here’s how they do it:I. Core-Gameplay Ads Monetization:• 🛡️ Watch ads to unlock skills like boosting damage or crit rate.>>>> Skills last for only one chapter, so players keep watching.• 💀 Revive your character once per chapter by watching an ad.• 🎁 Double your rewards at the end of each chapter with another ad.II. Progression IAP Monetization:• 🎉 Starter packs offer hard and soft currency, plus bonuses.• 🏆 Season passes keep players engaged with rewards and daily quests.• 💎 Hard currency packs let players fast-track progress for a premium price.• 🎲 Gacha chests offer upgrades and characters with a bit of surprise.• 🔓 Unlock new characters by collecting fragments or buying them with diamonds.III. Other Monetization Options:• ⚡ Speed boosts […]

Anton Slashcev October 24

Journal

Top Progression Mechanics from Peak Games

Top Progression Mechanics from Peak GamesBased on the Playliner report, here are the 11 most popular progression mechanics in Peak games:1. Short-term goals ↳ Players are introduced to goals within the first minutes to keep them focused and motivated.2. Progress visualization ↳ Thematic rooms or stages unlock at specific levels, offering visual changes and rewards.3. Event locks ↳ Teasers for upcoming events encourage players to progress and unlock new content.4. Global maps ↳ A visually engaging path shows players how far they've come and what’s next.5. Daily bonuses ↳ Players receive rewards for logging in daily, promoting consistent engagement.6. Win streaks ↳ Winning multiple levels grants escalating rewards, with FOMO kicking in after a defeat.7. Sprint tournaments ↳ Players compete to complete levels faster, often using boosters for an advantage.8. Regular tournaments ↳ Players earn points through level completion to […]

Anton Slashcev October 23

Journal

How to Evaluate Your Game Ideas?

How to Evaluate Your Game Ideas?Here are some critical questions you need to ask:1. Market Size: • Is your genre growing or declining? • Are new developers entering the niche, or is it saturated? • How could future trends and technology impact your genre?2. Competitive Analysis: • Who are your competitors, and what made them successful? • Why did similar games fail? • What makes your game stand out?3. Know Your Audience: • Who is your audience, and what do they value (e.g., story, competition)? • What are people saying about similar games on platforms like Reddit, Steam, or App Store?4. Core Game Design: • Can you pitch your game in one sentence? • Does the art style and core gameplay loop stand out? • What will keep players coming back?5. Marketing & Community Building: • How will you reach […]

Anton Slashcev October 22

Journal

Devs can forget about marketing, as publishers handle it.

"Mobile developers can forget about marketing, as publishers will handle it!" This is one of the biggest myths in the post-IDFA mobile market. I’ve worked with nearly all the major publishers: Voodoo, Lion, Supersonic, Crazy Labs, Homa, and I can say for sure: If you want your game to reach the top, marketing must be a priority from day 1. Don't expect your great game to promote itself. And don’t assume the publisher will care for everything without you. Not because there’s something wrong with publishers. But because standing out in today’s overcrowded mobile UA is 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 hard. Here’s what you need to consider: • How will you grab the player's attention? • How will your product align with those ads? • Can you outbid your competitors' advertising budget? • How will you test multiple ad hypotheses every month? • […]

Anton Slashcev October 22

Journal

Puzzle Games: Loss Aversion to monetize level fails

How do puzzle games use Loss Aversion to monetize level fails?Based on the Playliner research, here are the most common things a player will lose if they fail:• Win streaks progress• Lives• Season pass keys• Event stage rewards• Tournament position• Additional rewards• Infinite Boosters time• x2 Level MultiplierIt’s all about the fear of losing – and driving that next purchase to keep playing.What do you think? Is it a fair strategy or too much pressure?

Anton Slashcev October 21

Journal

The 3 Stages of Mobile Game Production

The 3 Stages of Mobile Game ProductionHere’s a quick breakdown:𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲:• Goals: - Validate game concept - Test core mechanics - Assess market fit • Timeframe: 1 to 3 months • Team Size: Small team (3-10 people) • Content: Focus on core loop and mechanics • Monetization: None • Customer Support: None, but pay attention to player feedback • Risks: - Core gameplay may not resonate with players - Poor marketability ---𝟮. 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲:• Goals: - Increase player engagement - Enhance monetization strategies - Achieve KPIs for a global launch • Timeframe: 6 to 18 months • Team Size: Medium team (10-30 people, including analytics, marketing, QA) • Content: Expanded content, testing new mechanics • Monetization: Basic shop, starter packs, and offers to test the willingness to pay • Customer Support: Basic channels for test regions • Risks: […]

Anton Slashcev October 19

Journal

30 Small Things that Make Games More Fun

30 Small Things that Make Games More Fun:What is your favorite?

Anton Slashcev October 19

Journal

10 Popular Monetization Features for Mobile Games

10 Popular Monetization Features for Mobile GamesBased on the Playliner research, here are the top approaches developers are using to boost revenue:1. Starter Pack • A low-priced bundle ($0.99 to $9.99) offered in the first 30 minutes of gameplay. • Huge discounts (50%-90%) to attract early players.2. Rolling Offer • Offers with multiple deals, some free. • Unlocks deals in a sequence, keeping players engaged over time.3. Build Your Offer • Players choose rewards before purchasing. • Option to buy the entire bundle at a discounted price.4. Choose Your Offer • Multiple bundles targeting different spending cohorts, encouraging higher spending.5. Double & Triple Offers • Premium bundles with currencies and boosters available in the store. • Store is accessible from the beginning of the game.6. Shop Bundles • Short-term offers (less than 24 hours) regularly appear in the game store.7. […]

Anton Slashcev October 17

Journal

High ARPU vs Low ARPU: What Drives the Difference?

High ARPU vs Low ARPU: What's Driving the Difference?Here’s the breakdown:𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 💰 • Game Start: Immediate action or engaging intro that hooks players • Onboarding: Short, interactive tutorial integrated into gameplay• Core Loop: Addictive gameplay mechanics that encourage repeat play. • Generosity: Regular rewards and bonuses for active players. • Progression: Levels and rewards that feel achievable. • Goals: Clear short- and long-term objectives for players to strive toward. • Ads: Optional, minimal interruptions that offer rewards. • Game Balance: Skill-based success with balanced matchmaking and economy• Engagement: Daily challenges and fresh content to keep players involved. • Updates: Frequent updates with new features and bug fixes. • Feedback: Listening to players and communicating clearly. • Performance: Smooth gameplay, fast load times, minimal bugs. • Interface: Clean design, intuitive controls.𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗥𝗣𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 😕 • Game Start: Long loading […]

Anton Slashcev October 16

Anton Slashcev

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